Despite what we often hear, daydreaming can be extremely useful. Not only can it be a way to deal with boredom and even a source of pleasure, but research shows that our ability to mentally escape the present can also stimulate creativity, problem solving and planning, and provide an antidote to loneliness.
“Daydreaming”, when defined as thoughts that are not related to what you are doing in real time, takes up a good portion of your waking life – on average about 30% of your time (according to our surveys). It is part of our ordinary, everyday conscious experience. It might even be a default mode of our brain functioning that we revert to, especially when doing tasks that don’t require a lot of brain energy, thinking – simple, automatic like hanging out laundry etc. .
But an estimated 2.5% of adults experience daydreaming that can be considered excessive, a potential disorder that remains debated and is known as “compulsive daydreaming” (maladaptive daydreaming, in English). Affected individuals experience episodes of daydreaming so numerous and pervasive that they interfere with their daily lives. They impair attention span (for example when reading a text), influence memory, etc.
What is compulsive daydreaming?
This form of “maladaptive daydreaming” differs from simple daydreaming in several ways.
Unlike typical daydreams which can be fleeting (a few seconds), “maladaptive dreamers” can spend several hours at a stretch in a single daydream. According to one study, they spend on average almost half of their waking hours immersed in imaginary worlds that they have gradually built. These made-up worlds are often rich and complex, with multi-layered plots and storylines that evolve over years.
These alternate worlds are alive and can be rewarding for the one who develops them… But the need to pursue this fantasy can become compulsive, at the possible risk of leading to addiction. In the case of compulsive daydreaming, the desire to return to this virtual universe can be strong and turn into annoyance when this is not possible or when this activity is interrupted. Many also find it difficult to stop or even reduce the time they spend “in the moon”.
But beyond this feeling, giving so much importance (even in extreme cases priority) to alternative and imaginary realities at the expense of physical and social needs can create problems at work, at school and in maintaining of close relationships. Many people suffering from maladaptive daydreaming thus report experiencing psychological distress, difficulty sleeping and a feeling of shame with regard to this activity, which they may be led to hide from others.
It is important to note that these daydreams and other immersive mental activities are not problematic by definition. What makes daydreaming “maladaptive” is when it becomes difficult to control, when the time devoted to it becomes so large that it begins to encroach on that of real life, and when its compulsive side interferes. with important concrete relationships and goals.
Why is this happening?
Researchers suspect that people experiencing these compulsive daydreams have an innate aptitude for immersive “fantasies.” Many discover this ability early in childhood, realizing that these fantasies can be used to regulate distress. By creating an inner world of comfort, they are able to escape reality.
Some, but not all, maladaptive dreamers may use this medium as a coping strategy. For example, this activity can provide a distraction from an unpleasant reality, which can help cope with trauma, difficult life events, or social isolation. But it can lead to a vicious circle – resorting to it to deal with negative emotions fueling the need to dive into it.
This practice can then become an addictive behavior that fuels the problems it was meant to alleviate. Perhaps unsurprisingly, compulsive daydreaming tends to occur alongside other disorders, the most common being ADHD, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
There also seems to be a possible link between OCD and compulsive daydreaming. One study found that more than half of participants suffering from their too-frequent waking dreams also showed signs of OCD. This may suggest the existence of common mechanisms between these types of disorders, including intrusive thoughts, dissociation, and lack of cognitive control.
A problem that remains debated…
Although compulsive daydreaming is receiving increasing attention online and in social media, it is not yet officially recognized as a disorder in psychiatric diagnostic manuals.
This means that many healthcare professionals may not recognize it, leading to misdiagnoses or dismissal of symptoms. With the consequent risk of further distress, isolation and shame for those involved. Many people turn to online forums to gain support and recognition from their peers, a practice that has its own risks.
The fact that compulsive daydreaming is not recognized as a psychiatric disorder also means that we know little about treatment options.
There is a documented case study, published by Eli Somer (who described this disorder in 2002) in a peer-reviewed journal, showing that a 25-year-old man was able to halve the time he spent in this activity – from nearly three hours a day to less than an hour and a half. This reduction was achieved over a six month period using a combination of psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.
Although the treatment had no effect on the rewarding nature of his daydreams, he reported improvements in his work and social functioning, as well as in his underlying obsessions. It is hoped that the growing recognition and understanding of this phenomenon will lead to more treatment options for those who suffer from it.
This article is produced by The Conversation and hosted by 20 Minutes.